Farra is a death administration assistant for UK families. Get step-by-step guidance for registering a death, applying for probate, notifying banks, and managing bereavement admin. From essential documents to practical checklists, Farra simplifies estate paperwork and funeral-related tasks so you can focus on what matters.
Probate is the legal process to administer deceased's estate. Needed if owned property or assets over £5K-£50K. Process: (1) Month 1-3: Get death certificate, value assets, complete IHT forms; (2) Month 3-6: Apply for grant (£273 fee), HMRC processes IHT; (3) Month 6-12: Collect assets, pay debts, distribute to beneficiaries. DIY £273-£1,000, solicitor 2-5% estate. Timeline 6-12 months typical.
Have more questions on UK death administration? Let Farra help.
When someone dies, their estate doesn't automatically transfer to their beneficiaries. If they owned property or had significant assets, you'll need to go through probate – the legal process of administering their estate.
Probate can feel overwhelming, especially whilst grieving. This complete guide walks you through every step of the UK probate process in 2026, from the first week after death to final distribution of the estate.
Whether you've been named as an executor in a will or need to apply as an administrator (when there's no will), this guide covers everything you need to know.
Probate is the legal right to deal with someone's property, money, and possessions (their 'estate') when they die. According to GOV.UK, you need probate to access the deceased person's assets and distribute the estate.
When you apply for probate, you're asking the Probate Registry to confirm that:
Once granted, you receive a "grant of probate" (if there's a will) or "letters of administration" (if there's no will).
This legal document gives you the authority to access bank accounts, sell property, close accounts, and distribute the estate according to the will or intestacy rules.
Whether you need probate depends on what the deceased owned and how much it was worth. According to Citizens Advice, banks and financial institutions have different thresholds for releasing funds without probate.
Not sure if you need probate? Read our detailed decision guide
The will names one or more executors – these are the people with legal authority to apply for probate.
If you're named as executor, you have the right to apply, but you're not legally required to do so. If you don't want to act, you can:
When there's no will (intestacy), you apply for "letters of administration" instead of probate. There's a priority order for who can apply:
To apply for probate/administration you must:
Here's the full probate process from death to final distribution. Each step includes what to do, who to contact, and what documents you need.
Timeline: Within 5 days
Register the death at the local register office. You'll need:
You'll receive:
💡 Pro Tip:
Order at least 3-5 certified death certificates (£11 each). Many institutions require an original, and certified copies ordered later are more expensive.
Timeline: Week 1-2
Where to look for the will:
⚠️ Important:
You MUST submit the original will to the probate registry, not a copy. If the original is lost, the process becomes significantly more complex.
If there's no will: You'll apply for "letters of administration" instead of probate. The estate is distributed according to intestacy rules, not the deceased's wishes.
Timeline: 2-6 weeks
Create a complete inventory of everything the deceased owned and owed. You need the value at date of death, not current value.
Assets to value:
Debts to deduct:
💡 Valuation Tips:
Timeline: 1-2 weeks
Even if no inheritance tax is due, you must complete HMRC forms to prove the estate value.
IHT205 (No Tax Due – Excepted Estate)
Use if:
IHT400 (Full IHT Return – Tax Due)
Use if:
Current IHT thresholds (2026/26):
⚠️ Critical:
If IHT is due, you must pay at least some tax BEFORE applying for probate. This creates a catch-22: you need the grant to access funds to pay tax, but you need to pay tax to get the grant. Solutions: estate funds you can access, selling assets that don't need probate, or Direct Payment Scheme (pay from deceased's account directly to HMRC).
Need detailed IHT guidance? Read our complete IHT guide
Timeline: 4-8 weeks processing time
Now you're ready to apply to the Probate Registry for the grant of probate.
Application options:
Documents you need:
💡 Speed Tip:
Online applications are typically processed faster (4-6 weeks) than postal applications (6-8 weeks). However, complex estates or those requiring additional documentation may take longer regardless of method.
Timeline: 2-4 months (depends on complexity)
With the grant of probate in hand, you now have legal authority to collect all the estate's assets.
Actions to take:
⚙️ Set Up an Estate Account:
Open a dedicated "executor account" or "estate account" at a bank. Keep ALL estate money separate from your personal finances. This protects you and makes accounting much easier.
If selling property:
Timeline: 1-2 months
Before distributing anything to beneficiaries, you MUST pay all debts and taxes. If you don't, you're personally liable.
Priority order for payments:
Executor expenses you can claim:
⚠️ Unknown Creditors:
Protect yourself from unknown creditors by placing statutory notices in:
Wait 2 months after publication before distributing. This gives creditors time to come forward. If you distribute before this, you're personally liable if creditors appear later.
What if the estate is insolvent?
If debts exceed assets, the estate is insolvent. DON'T pay anything yet. Seek professional advice immediately – there are strict legal rules about which creditors get paid in which order. You could be personally liable if you get it wrong.
Timeline: 1-2 weeks
Estate accounts show exactly what you've done with the estate's money. They're essential for transparency and protecting yourself from disputes.
Your estate accounts should show:
💡 Record Keeping:
Keep EVERY receipt, statement, and piece of correspondence. Beneficiaries have the right to see estate accounts, and detailed records protect you if anyone questions your decisions. Store records for at least 12 years.
Get beneficiary approval:
Share draft accounts with beneficiaries before final distribution. Get them to sign off that they're satisfied. This provides valuable protection against future disputes.
Timeline: 1-2 months
Only distribute the estate AFTER you've completed steps 1-8. Distributing too early makes you personally liable if issues arise.
Before distributing, confirm:
Distribution methods:
📝 Get Receipts:
Ask each beneficiary to sign a receipt confirming what they've received. This protects you if they later claim they received less than their entitlement.
What if a beneficiary can't be found?
If you can't trace a beneficiary after reasonable efforts (genealogist searches, public notices), you can either:
Timeline: Final week
Final tasks:
🎉 You're Done!
Once you've completed these steps and received formal discharge from beneficiaries, your duties as executor are finished. Well done – probate is complex and you've successfully navigated it.
How long does probate actually take? Here's a realistic timeline for straightforward and complex estates.
(No IHT, one property, simple assets, cooperative beneficiaries)
Total: 6-7 months
(IHT due, property to sell, business assets, or disputes)
Total: 12-18 months
Probate costs vary dramatically depending on whether you do it yourself or use a solicitor.
| Probate application fee | £273 |
| Death certificates (3-5) | £33-£55 |
| Extra probate copies | £10-£30 |
| Property valuation | £0-£300 |
| Item valuations | £0-£500 |
| Gazette notices | £200-£300 |
| Postage, printing | £50-£150 |
| Typical Total | £566-£1,608 |
Plus your time: 20-40 hours over 6-9 months
Simple Estate (under £100k)
£1,500-£3,000 fixed fee + disbursements
Standard Estate (£100k-£500k)
£3,000-£5,000 fixed fee or 1-2% of estate
Complex Estate (over £500k or IHT)
£5,000-£10,000+ or 2-5% of estate value
Disbursements (additional):
Your time: 5-10 hours providing information
Estate value: £350,000 (family home + savings, no IHT due)
Detailed cost comparison and decision guide: DIY Probate vs Solicitor Costs
Why it matters: The Probate Registry requires the original will, not a copy. Without it, they may assume the deceased destroyed it (revoking it).
Solutions:
The catch-22: You need the grant to access funds, but you need to pay some IHT before getting the grant.
Solutions:
Common disputes: Claims the deceased lacked mental capacity, was unduly influenced, or the will wasn't properly witnessed.
Solutions:
The issue: Estate property needs expensive repairs but there's no cash in the estate to pay for them.
Solutions:
Common reasons: Missing documents, errors on forms, incorrect valuations, or unclear will clauses.
Solutions:
The issue: Will names someone you can't locate, or intestacy rules mean distant relatives inherit but you can't find them.
Solutions:
Comprehensive estate administration checklist for UK executors. Step-by-step guide covering probate, asset collection, debt payment, and distribution with timelines.
Ultimate step-by-step probate guide: 10-stage process, realistic timelines (6-18 months), complete costs (DIY vs solicitor), IHT forms, executor duties, common problems & solutions.
When probate is required in the UK in 2025. Asset thresholds by bank and institution, small estate rules, and how to avoid probate where possible.
Complete checklist of documents needed for probate in the UK. From death certificates to asset valuations - everything executors need to gather for probate applications.
Find out if you need probate in the UK. Property always needs probate. Small estates under £5K-£50K may not (depends on bank). Joint assets exempt.
Your AI companion for UK death administration—combining practical guidance with emotional support, available 24/7.
Your AI companion for UK death administration
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